City Voters To Decide Election Ordinance

The Bourbon Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to put an ordinance before voters that would push city elections off six years.

The ordinance says that if an equal number of candidates files for an equal amount of seats, there would be no election for those seats for another six years.

It would apply both to the mayor and aldermanic seats.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Ward 1 Alderman Margie Brine.

Mayor Dave Lafferty, who was unopposed in 2020 and 2022, agreed. The city hasn’t had a race for the mayor’s seat since 2012 when the late Larry Maserang challenged former Leonard Armstrong, the incumbent.

“We’re spending money for nothing,” Lafferty said.

The city has also seen most aldermanic races be unopposed, with the seats mostly changing by resignation.

There are two seats up in the April 2023 ballot — Brine and Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Heywood. Both incumbents are the only ones who have filed.

The measure would save the city money on elections.

A city’s ability to forego an election is found in RSMo. 115.124, which says that the governing body of any city, town or village with (2,000) or fewer inhabitants may the ordinance to the voters.

At the end of the six-year period, each city shall be prohibited from conducting such elections “in such a manner” unless the question is again adopted by the majority of voters.

Thus, the city would have to allow for a re-vote or forego elections for another six years.

The council unanimously approved putting the ordinance on the ballot.